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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has reached settlement agreements in 20 of the 24 active civil lawsuits filed against him by women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, the women’s lawyer said Tuesday.
Attorney Anthony Buzbee said the terms of the agreement are confidential and said he hopes the remaining four lawsuits will be resolved in court.
“Today I announce that all but four cases against Deshaun Watson have been resolved,” Buzbee said in a written statement. “We are working on the documentation related to these settlements. Once we have done so, these specific cases will be dismissed. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We will not comment further on the agreements or such cases.”
Watson has not been charged with any crime. He is still facing a possible suspension by the NFL according to his personal conduct policy.
“Today’s development has no impact on the collectively negotiated disciplinary process,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.
Watson and his attorney, Rusty Hardin, have denied the allegations.
Of the remaining civil lawsuits, Buzbee said, “I look forward to hearing these cases in due course, in accordance with other registration obligations and the court’s schedule.”
The NFL will defend the “significant” suspension of Deshaun Watson
Complaints against Watson by women include making inappropriate comments, exposing themselves and forcing their penis into the hands of women during massage sessions.
Hardin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“I’ve been honest and honest about my position,” Watson told reporters last week at a Browns low-season practice. “It simply came to our notice then. I never attacked anyone. … I say this from the beginning. And I will continue to do so. Until all the facts come out on the legal side, I just have to continue with the process of my legal team and the court. “
Watson had not given any public indication last week that he was interested in resolving the lawsuits.
“As I said, I just want to clear my name and be able to let the facts and legal proceedings continue to play out,” he said at the time. “So right now, that’s all I’m doing is wanting to clear my name and be able to let all the facts come out in court and be able to focus on that.”
The NFL plans to argue with the new sports disciplinary officer that Watson should receive a “significant” suspension for violating his personal conduct policy, several people familiar with the case said Friday. The suspension the league is looking for from Watson could be about a full season, said one such person.
The NFL must present the findings of its investigation to Sue L. Robinson, the former U.S. District Judge who is the disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association according to the current version. of conduct policy.
It was unclear on Tuesday whether the case was officially filed with Robinson.
The league expects the entire disciplinary process, including the resolution of any possible appeal to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or a person designated by him, to be completed before the training camp begins, a person said Friday. with knowledge of the matter. The Browns are scheduled to celebrate their initial training camp practice on July 27th.
“When it comes to the league and its decision, we have to respect that and let them do their process and finish their investigation and report,” Watson said last week. “And as I said before, I talked to the league. I was honest and I really told them all the questions they asked me. So I really can’t have [any] control this “.
Buzbee said in an email Monday that he and his clients had no continued involvement in the NFL disciplinary process beyond the interviews some of the women did last year with league representatives.
“What the NFL does or doesn’t do has nothing to do with civil cases,” Buzbee said in an email Monday.